Shank button feeder for button sewing machines



y 7, 1952 w. A. TROLL 2,597,912

SHANK BUTTON FEEDER FOR BUTTON SEWING MACHINES Filed Oct. 4, 1948 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WILLIAM A. TROLL HIS ATTORNEY.

y 1952 w. A. TROLL 2,597,912

SHANK BUTTON FEEDER FOR BUTTON SEWING MACHINES Filed 001:. 4. 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WILLIAM A. TROLL ZQWMW H IS ATTORNEY.

May 27, 1952 w. A. TROLL SHANK BUTTON FEEDER FOR BUTTON SEWING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 4, 1948 FIGJZ'.

INVENTOR Patented May 27, 1952 SHANK BUTTON FEEDER FOR BUTTON SEWING MACHINES William A. Troll, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Emsig Manufacturing Company, New York,

N. Y., a partnership Application October 4, 1948, Serial No. 52,683

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a button feed assembly; more particularly to a device for automatically feeding buttons to a button sewing machine.

It is an object of my invention to provide a button sewing machine, such as that shown in the United States patent to J. J. Sullivan No. 777,564 of December 13, 1904, and known as a Singer button sewing machine, with an attachment which will convert the work holding clamp to one which may efficiently and automatically feed buttons, properly oriented, in sewing position so that the normal cycle of sewing involving lifting the presser foot to position the work and operating the button sewing mechanism may be performed without the necessity for hand location of the button, the movement of operating the presser foot serving to discharge a sewn button while locating a new button in position on the presser foot, the movement of the presser foot to the work engaging position restoring the mechanism for the next cycle of operation.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a combined presser foot, button chute and button feed whereby the button feeding operation for sewing is made positive and expeditiously effected to make automatic the button sewing operation, leaving it merely to the operator to locate the position on the garment where the button is to be afiixed.

Still more particularly it is an object of my invention to provide a button feeding mechanism including a novel construction of classifying hopper and chute in combination with the feed to the button sewing machine whereby the operation of button sewing, particularly for shank buttons, may be effected quickly and efiiciently and without hand location of the button in the work holding mechanism.

Still more particularly, it is an object of my invention to provide a button feeding mechanism, particularly for shank buttons, which may quickly and efficiently be installed in existing button sewing machines, to require little labor to effect a conversion of the machine from one type of work to another and to provide a low cost and easily maintainable attachment.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein, or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my device with portions thereof broken away to disclose details;

Figure 2 is a magnified perspective view of a button to be used in the installation illustrated;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view taken from the right hand side of the button sewing machine;

Figure 5 is a front view of the machine with the feeding mechanism in a corresponding position;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, with the presser foot partially raised;

Figure 7 isa similar view, with the presser foot completely raised;

Figure 8 is a section taken on the line 88 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a section taken on the line 9--9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a magnified view of the hopper;

Figure 11 is a section taken on the line ll--ll of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a section taken on the line l2l2 of Figure 10.

Making reference to the drawings, my invention is illustrated in connection with a Singer type of button sewing machine following the general principles of the Sullivan patent above mentioned, in which the machine frame is constructed with the usual bed plate I from which rises the overhanging bracket frame 2, having journalled therein a shaft 3, to which is operatively connected the rectilinear reciprocating needle bar 4 carrying the needle 5 which constitutes one member of the stitch forming mechanism. Slidingly mounted upon the bed plate is the usual slide bar 6, constituting a carrier for the work holding parts. The slide bar has also cooperatively connected with it the clamp arm I and is suitably slotted to receive the screws 8. The clamp arm I also carries the post 9, having the usual cross bar ID for engagement by the rearwardly extending bracket arm ll, mounted on the lift bar I2, and slidably mounted within the head of the bracket arm 2, previously mentioned. The lift bar l2 at its upper end is provided with a collar l3, arranged to be operated by the usual clamp operating rock lever, fulcrumed upon the bracket arm 2, to be operated by the usual foot treadle chain pull I4, before and after the button sewing operation.

The clamp arm '7 is arranged to have attached to it the bracket l5 by means of the screws 8 previously described, and which are screw threaded into the bracket IS. The bracket I5 has a downwardly directed branch I 6 which supports the combined chute and presser foot I! by the screws [8. The presser foot and chute includes a plurality of sections [9, 20, 2| and 22, each having a back plate 23, spacer strips 24, 24 and cover plates 25, 25, outlining a button guide channel 26 and edges 2'! of a slot 28, for the shank thereof, conforming generally to the head 29 of the shank button B. The shank 30 has been integrally formed with the head of the button 29 by a moulding operation and is generally cylindrical in outline, with grooved portions 3| to each face thereof, through which the sewing hole 32 is formed by drilling. This contour presents a button shank which has generally predominantly cylindrical sides to each side of the drill hole, and flattened edges to each end of the drill hole, with a groove 3|, as described, forming a thread receiving cavity. The shank may be considered as relatively massive as compared with staple shank buttons, and buttons of this construction have a contributing factor to the'operation of the feed'me'chanism herein described.

The section 19 has a transverse branch 33, whose base 34'is angularly'directed generall'y'to the section 19. The cover plates 24 follow the general contour of the transverse branch 33 to provide spaced fingers '35 and 36, the upper spacer strip 24'terminatih'g at 31 at a distance to leave the buttons Bl (the first position) and B2 (the second position) under the spring action of the fingers 35 audit. The fingers 35 and 35 are thinned out for springiness and spaced away from the p1ate'23 to leave accessible at their exterior sides, the shanks 30 of the buttons, to position the button B to have the sewing hole '32 in the aligned position with the needle 5 by the detent action of the fingers on the button.

With this construction Iprovide a feed lever 38, one end of which is pivoted at 33 on the rear face of'the chute plate 23. The forward'end 40 extends beneath the nose 4| of'the'bracket arm 2. An adjusting screw 42 has'its'en'd' 43 engaging the nose, for purposes which'will appear hereafter.

The feed lever 38 carries a swinging pawl 44 pivoted by the threaded pin45. A side branch 46 thereof is connected to'the'coiled spring 41, whose opposite end is attached to an anchoring pin 48 to pull the same down. The pawl 44 has a claw finger 49 and camming sides 50 and 51. The action of the spring 41 normally urges the bearing surfaces 50 and 5| against the guide pin 52, suitably provided with anti-friction means. The guide pin 52 also carries the plate 53 in the various positions which the pawl 44 may assume, as will appear hereinbelow.

Normally the presser foot and chute section 36 is adjusted for contact with the plate 6 for the limiting downward position of the clamp arm I. The presser foot I! may bear upon the fabric F, pinching the same over the slide bar 6 which carries a block 54, adjustable by screw threaded means 55. The block '54 is of a height with respect to the bearing surface of the presser foot and the shank of the button to press the fold F! on the upper surface 58 of the block. A groove 5! permits the clearance for the needle 5, as will be readily understood. It will be observed, therefore, that the shank 38 of the button serves to hold the fabric pressed upon the block 54, as well as upon the plate 6 in the downward position of the presser foot.

In this position, the adjustingscrew 42 tilts the pawl 44 downwardly so that the pawl finger straint.

49 is normally spaced from the path of the but-- tons which may move within the slot 26 of the chute. With this adjustment made, upon raising the lift bar 12 through the medium of the rock shaft 14, the clamp arm I will be raised to lift the presser foot from the position shown in Figures 4 and 5 to that shown in Figure 6. The lever arm 38 is then tilted, directing the prong finger 49 in the space between the second and third buttons B2 and B3, to engage the shank 30 of the button B2. As the presser foot movement continues upwardly, contact of the pawl 44 with the guide pin 52 passes from the camrriin'g surface 50 of gradual pushing magnitude'to the more abrupt camming magnitude of surface 5|, as more clearly illustrated in Figure '2, to move the button B2 from the second position to the first position, and to eject the button Bl. Thus, upon reaching the limiting upward position of the presser foot, the button in the position BI has been'ejected, and a new button located in-itsplace. Thethrow of the lever 38 is adjusted with regard'to the-throwof the lift bar l2 so that it may move a button through --the medium of the shank 30 thereof on the exterior face. The-engagement of the shank of the button does not disturb the arrangement 'of the buttons backing up behind those in thefirst'and second positions, inany way to interfere with the natural gravitational throw'or the resistance of the buttons to be backed up or effecting any cantingof-the buttons.

The operation of feeding-the buttonsto a sewing position by pushing the shanks-ofthe buttons along the chute rather than the heads, placesno restriction on the-shape or contour of the contacting edges and of the heads of the buttons with each other.

The chutesections i9, 20, 2| and 22 are articulated with respect to eachother bybeing joined by flexible shims-5&,- 59 and 60, leavingspaces between these sections suflicient to form aflexible chute which responds-to the jogging action of the clamp plate and slide bar 5 with minimum re- Thesection 22 i is a connected with the hopperH-which is mountedupon a tubular bearing 6| having pivotal connection withthestandard 62 which is supported on thepedestal- 63 attached to thework-table. The head 64 ofthe standard 62 is sleeved inthe socket 65 of'the tubular bearingfil to permit freedom of movementofthebearing 6| and standard fi2. The hopper H is supported on the shaft 66- mounted on the arm (it, which normally lies approximately horizontally.

The hopper construction now to be described includes-mountinguponthe shaft 65 a collar =61 against whichthere is abutted the distributing spider 68 by the anti-friction bearingsBQ and 10. Thespider on one face hasa pulley groove H for receiving the belt-I2 of the motorized drive member 13, and constitutesa flange "defining a slot I5, open at its periphery-l6. The slot 'l5 correspondsgenerally, with reasonable tolerances, to the thickness'of the button from the-top of the head to theend of the shank.

The flange 14' includes aplurality of openings 11' formed by the radial arms 18, extending from the hub 19. The assembly thus provided has sleeved thereover the hopper H so'that' the bottom wall follows the periphery of the spider at the lowerend for a distance corresponding substantially to the overhang of the button head with respect to the shank. A shieldBi atthe upper portion of the ho'pper-protectsthe periphe'ry' ofthe spider for an equal distance, leaving egress to the spider only through the openings 11.

The bottom wall 80 is concentric with the spider for a distance up to a passed-dead cen-r;

friction to rotate the spider, but'likewise to slip thereover should any obstruction occur, as will appear hereafter. The charge of buttons is fed into the hopper mouth andreaches the spider openings 11 through the'bulged lateral section 86 to tumble the buttonsand distribute the buttons in the slot 15, moving them by a classifying action until they have been oriented to a position where they fall within the throat 85 by the rolling action from the dead center position to the passed-dead center position, at which the throat 85 is located. This action occurs intermittently with the sewing operation, whereby certain desirable attributes are achieved, assuring steady and uniform fiow of buttons along the chute sections [9, 26, 2|, 22, with the buttons maintained with the heads in the slots 26 and the shanks projecting through the slot 28 and held in oriented position with the sewing hol apertures 32 at right angles to the edges 21.

The gravitational action slides the buttons down the chute up to the point where they encounter the detent gripping fingers 35, 36, locating the sewing aperture 32 in oriented position opposite the needle 5. In this position, the sewing cycle is accomplished. The presser foot is then raised, relatively to draw up the chute and presser foot section [9, directing downwardly the claw finger 49 in the space between the second and third buttons, and engaging the shank 30 of the second button to eject the sewn button as the presser foot is brought up to the maximum distance.

The cylindrical sides of the shank of the button effect a smooth ejecting action without disturbing the position of the row of buttons along the chute up to the hopper. This is a very desirable feature of my invention since a rearwardly directed pressure on the shank buttons in the second and third positions will tend to effect a canting action and obstruct the feed of the button.

The features of my invention whereby the presser foot is directly connected with the jogging movement of the work holder toward the sewing operation, coupled with the articulated action of the chute segments I9, 2|], 2!, 22 and the free movement of the hopper on the shaft 66 and the standard 62 all contribute to a classification of the buttons along the chute, and a descent without piling or obstruction. The generally cylindrical sides of the button do not interfere with the movement of the buttons across the jointed sections of the chute from one section to another in the groove 26.

Thus the feed of the buttons from the hopper to the presser foot is assured with positiveness by the flexibility of the chute and the free flow induced in gravitating the buttons to the orienting position.

The motorized hopper is likewise activated 6 into performing its sorting action to locate the buttons; The slip action of the belt '12 automatically'takes the sorting hopper out of play should the chute fill up more rapidly than the discharge of buttons by reason of the completion of the-sewing operation.

In gener'aLI have provided a hopper which will positively and accurately orient the buttons within the chute and which will combine with the button shifting mechanism to orient the buttons and toposition the'sewing holes thereof accuratelywith regard to the reciprocating needle. This, combined with the jogging action which transmits its vibratory effect to the chute and hopper pivoted about the shaft 66 and the standard 62,assures speed and accuracy of the sewing operations.

' It is to be understood that while the invention has been illustrated in connection with a button feeder for button sewing machines, this device is equally suitable for feeding buttons to mount the buttons by other than a sewing machine, such as for example, a stapler, to attach the same upon a display card or sales card, for the purpose of supplying buttons to be sold in such mounted condition.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a button sewing machine, a button feeder comprising a presser foot having a channel leading to a chute for guiding a shank button through a slot formed in the chute engaging the button head, to extend the shank through the side of said chute and adjacent the presser foot, and a feeding pawl extending to one side of said chute including camming means directing the same against the button shank extending from the chute, to feed the button in sewing position upon raising of the presser foot.

2. In a button sewing machine, a button feeder comprising a presser foot having a channel extending therefrom into a chute, the contour of which is arranged slidably to hold a shank button engaging the head thereof and to extend the shank thereof outwardly to one side, a feeder pawl, camming means adjacent said side to direct the claw of said pawl between adjacent shanks of the button to move the button oriented to said presser foot.

3. In a button sewing machine, the combination with a presser foot of a chute including articulatedly joined chute sections to direct the chute from a presser foot to a hopper in an angularly twisted direction by the sections so joined to each other, a supporting standard, said hopper having a pivotal connection with said supporting standard to provide upon jogging and movement of the presser foot, a combined yielding movement of the sections about the standard and in respect to each other.

4. In a button sewing machine, a feed therefor having a presser foot, a chute for feeding shank buttons to said presser foot, said chute comprising a plurality of rectilinear channel sections, hinged joints connecting said sections and a motorized hopper connected to said chute whereby, upon jogging of the presser foot in sewing the button, vibratory movement is transmitted to said chute and hopper.

5. In a button feed for a sewing machine, a hopper, a motorized spider operating independently of the sewing machine havinga peripherally shielded transverse slot and axially spaced arms defining radiating slots for tumbling and feeding buttons to said first slot and from said hopper, 

